Potential role of growth factors and extracellular matrix in wound healingafter laryngotracheal reconstruction

Laryngotracheal reconstruction (LTR) has been used for more than 20 years t o treat infants and children with subglottic stenosis. Results after pediat ric LTR have been satisfactory; however, approximately 10% of children have recurrent airway narrowing after LTR. The purpose of our study was to dete rmine whether a correlation existed between specific growth factors and ext racellular matrix in patients with adequate wound healing capability as com pared with patients with poor wound healing capability. Histologic sections from 27 patients who underwent LTR were cut, and immunohistochemical stain ing was performed for transforming growth factor-beta, platelet-derived gro wth factor, fibronectin, tenascin, transforming growth factor-alpha, and va scular endothelial growth factor. Results showed that patients with adequat e wound healing capability had a positive correlation with vasculature fibr onectin, vasculature tenascin, and stromal fibronectin. Patients with poor wound healing capability had a positive correlation with stromal vascular e ndothelial growth factor.